Portable support for a bed patient

ABSTRACT

A normally-deflated, readily-flexible, inflatable pad which underlies a bed patient can be inflated to raise that bed patient and to gently but firmly hold that bed patient in raised position. When that inflatable pad is inflated, it defines a recess at the lower surface of the center thereof into which the supporting surface of a portable support can be moved; and that inflatable pad and that portable support can thereafter hold the bed patient at a desired level relative to the bed on which that inflatable pad normally rests. When the supporting surface of the portable support subsequently is removed from the recess at the lower surface of the center of the inflatable pad, that inflatable pad can be deflated to lower the bed patient. A pressure transducer, between the supporting surface and the carrier therefor, develops a signal while that supporting surface underlies and holds the inflatable pad and the bed patient; and a readout responds to that signal to indicate the weight of that bed patient.

United States Patent 1191 Mracek et al.

PORTABLE SUPPORT FOR A BED PATIENT Inventors: Milo F. Mraeek, CreveCoeur;

Ronald J. Bauer, Florissant, both of Mo.

Assignee: Milo F. Mraeek, St. Louis, Mo. Filed: Nov. 29, 1973 Appl. No.:420,081

Related US. Application Data Division of Scr. No. 2l4.806. Jan. 3 I972,Pat. No. 3,795,284.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ll/I902 Richardson 5/350 l/l95lOver 5/90 X 9/I97l Tucker 5/348 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS UnitedKingdom 5/327 R 3,875,599 Apr. s, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT Anormally-deflated, readily-flexible, inflatable pad which underlies abed patient can be inflated to raise that bed patient and to gently butfirmly hold that bed patient in raised position. When that inflatablepad is inflated, it defines a recess at the lower surface of the centerthereof into which the supporting surface of a portable support can bemoved; and that inflatable pad and that portable support can thereafterhold the bed patient at a desired level relative to the bed on whichthat inflatable pad normally rests. When the supporting surface of theportable support subsequently is removed from the recess at the lowersurface of the center of the inflatable pad that inflatable pad can bedeflated to lower the bed patient. A pressure transducer, between thesupporting surface and the carrier therefor, develops a signal whilethat supporting surface underlies and holds the inflatable pad and thebed patient; and a readout responds to that signal to indicate theweight of that bed patient.

7 Claims, 30 Drawing Figures SHEET [10F 10 PATENTEUIIPR ems PATENTEUAPRBIHIS SHEET 820i 10 PATENTEUAPR ems SHEET USUF 1O PATENTEDAPR aims SHEETCE 0F 10 GH HEHMM DiGITAL READOUT 3' TRAN SDUCER SUPPLY 236 PATENTEDAPRsums SHEET CSUF 1O PATENTEDAPR ems SHEET DSUF 10 PORTABLE SUPPORT FOR ABED PATIENT This is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 214,806 filed Jan.3, l972, now US. Pat. No. 3,795,284.

This invention relates to improvements in portable supports for bedpatients. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements inportable supports for bed patients who must be handled with care.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aportable support for use with bed patients who must be handled withcare.

The present invention provides a normally-deflated, readily-flexible,inflatable pad which can overlie a mattress on a bed and underlie a bedpatient. The material of which that inflatable pad is made is so thinand flexible that the bed patient can rest on that inflatable padwithout discomfort, even when that inflatable pad is de flated. As thatinflatable pad is inflated, it will gently but firmly elevate the bedpatient until the bed patient is several inches above the mattress. Theportions of the inflatable pad which are not overlain by the bed patientwill tend to inflate before the remaining portions of that inflatablepad can become inflated. This means that the perimetral portions of theinflatable pad will tend to inflate before the central portion of thatinflatable pad can become inflated; and the prompt inflation of thosepcrimetral portions will enable the inflatable pad to cradle the bedpatient, and thereby avoid any tendency of the bed patient to roll, asthat inflatable pad is being inflated. Once the inflatable pad has beeninflated, it will constitute a firm supporting surface for the bedpatient. When that inflatable pad is to be deflated, the weight of thebed patient will deflate the central portion of that inflatable padbefore the perimetral portions of that inflatable pad becomes deflated.This means that the perimetral portions of the inflatable pad will tendto cradle the bed patient, and thereby avoid any tendency of the bedpatient to roll, as that inflatable pad is being deflated. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an inflatablepad which is made from a thin and flexible material, which can beinflated to constitute a firm supporting surface for a bed patient, andwhich permits the perimetral portions thereof to tend to cradle the bedpatient during the inflation and deflation of that inflatable pad.

One preferred embodiment of portable support provided by the presentinvention can be used as a lifting device for a bed patient, as aweighing device for a bed patient. and as a transporting device for abed patient. That portable support has a carrier and a supportingsurface which can be moved into position beneath an inflatable pad onwhich a bed patient is resting; and that carrier and supporting surfacecan be raised upwardly to lift the bed patient. As the bed patient islifted, a weighing mechanism intermediate the supporting surface andcarrier will develop a signal which will indicate the total weight ofthe inflatable pad, of the bed patient, and of his attire. Because theweight of the inflatable pad and attire will be essentially constant,any changes in the indicated weight will reflect changes in the weightof the bed patient. Also, if desired, while the bed patient is in liftedposition, the bed mattress can be turned over, or reversed end for end,to make it more comfortable for the bed patient. Further, while the bedpatient is in lifted position, he or she can be moved around within agiven area by moving the portable support around within that given area.It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aportable support which can be used as a lifting device for a bedpatient, as a weighing device for a bed patient, and as a transportingdevice for a bed patient.

The said one preferred embodiment of portable support has awheel-equipped chassis and has a carrier and a supporting surface thatcan be moved laterally away from that wheel-equipped chassis and intoposition beneath the inflatable pad on which a bed patient is resting,that can be raised upwardly to lift the bed patient, and that can thenbe moved back into position adjacent that wheel-equipped chassis to movethe bed patient into position adjacent that wheel-equipped chassis. Thewidth of that wheel-equipped chassis is narrower than the width of anaverage door in a hospital or nursing home; andhence that preferredembodiment of portable support can be used to transport a bed patientbetween various rooms or areas in a hospital or nursing home. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a portablesupport with a relativelynarrow, wheel-equipped chassis which has acarrier and a supporting surface that can be moved laterally away fromthat wheel-equipped chassis and into position beneath an inflatable padon which a bed patient is resting, that can be raised upwardly to liftthe bed patient, and that can then be moved back into position adjacentthat wheel-equipped chassis to move the bed patient into positionadjacent that wheel-equipped chassis.

The weight of a bed patient will apply downwardlyacting force to thecarrier and supporting surface of the said one preferred embodiment ofportable support as that carrier and supporting surface lift that bedpatient; and that downward force will develop a rotative moment whichwill tend to cause that portable support to tilt. Any such tilting willbe prevented by stabilizing legs which are carried by that portablesupport and which move laterally of that portable support to engage thefloor at points below the bed patient. Those stabilizing legs willautomatically move into stabilizing position before the carrier andsupporting surface can start to lift the bed patient, and thosestabilizing legs will automatically move into retracted position whenthat carrier and supporting surface are lowered to their normalpositions. When the stabilizing legs are in stabilizing position, thetotal width of the portable support is greater than the width of anaverage door in a hospital or nursing home; but, when those stabilizinglegs are in retracted position, the total width of the portable supportis less than the width of such a door. As a result, the presentinvention provides a portable support which is narrow enough to passthrough the averagewidth doors of a hospital or nursing home, and yet issufficiently stable to enable the carrier and supporting surface thereofto be moved laterally away from it and into position beneath aninflatable pad to lift that inflatable pad and a bed patient restingthereon. It is, therefore, an object of the presest invention to providea portable support which is narrow enough to pass through theaverage-width doors of a hospital or nurs- -ing home, and yet issufficiently stable to enable the carrier and supporting surface thereofto be moved laterally away from it and into position beneath aninflatable pad to lift that inflatable pad and a bed patient restingthereon.

A less expensive portable support, which can lift an inflated pad and abed patient resting thereon, can be provided by making that portablesupport with a base that always underlies the carrier and supportingsurface of that portable support. The base of that portable support willfully prevent any tilting of that portable support when that carrier andsupporting surface lift an inflatable pad and a bed patient restingthereon. The opposite ends of that inflatable pad will extend outwardlybeyond the sides of that portable support, and will thereby keep thatportable support from being moved endways through an average-width doorof a hospital or nursing home; and the length of that portable supportis greater than the width of such a door. As a result, that portablesupport is unable to pass through an average-width door of a hospital ornursing home while it is supporting an inflated pad and a bed patientthereon. However, that portable support can be freely moved aroundwithin any given space or room while it is sup porting an inflated bedand a bed patient thereon, and it can be moved through an average-widthdoor of a hospital or nursing home whenever it is not supporting aninflated pad. That embodiment of portable support can lift and lower aninflated pad and a bed patient thereon, can weigh that bed patient, andcan move that bed patient around within a given space or room. It is,therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a portablesupport with a base that always underlies the carrier and supportingsurface of that portable support and which can raise and lower thatcarrier and supporting surface to lift and lower an inflated pad and abed patient thereon.

An even less expensive portable support, which can hold an inflated padand a bed patient resting thereon, can be provided by making thatportable support with a base that always underlies the carrier andsupporting surface of that portable support and by making that carrierand supporting surface stationary relative to that base. The carrier andsupporting surface of that portable support can be moved into positionbeneath an inflated pad and a bed patient thereon; and then the bed canbe lowered to enable the weight of the inflated pad and of the bedpatient to be transferred to that carrier and supporting surface. Atsuch time, the weight of the inflated pad and of the bed patient can benoted; and the portable support can be moved around within a given spaceor room to move the bed patient around within that space or room.Subsequently, when it is desired to have the bed again support theinflated pad and the bed patient, the carrier and the supporting surfaceof the portable support will be moved into position above the bed, andthen that bed will be raised upwardly until it engages and supports theinflated pad and the bed patient thereon. It is, therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide a portable support with a base thatalways underlies the carrier and supporting surface of that portablesupport and that holds that carrier and supporting surface stationaryrelative to that base.

The supporting surfaces of the various portable supports provided by thepresent invention are equipped with fittings that enable them to supportbottles of blood, plasma, glucose, saline solution, or the like, or tohold receptacles which are attached to catheters or tubes within the bedpatient. As a result, the various portable supports provided by thepresent invention can be used to weigh bed patients and to move thosebed patients around within a given space or room without any need ofinterrupting the flow of blood, plasma, glucose, saline solution, or thelike into the bed patient,

and without any need of interrupting the flow of fluids from the bedpatient. lt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to providea portable support with a supporting surface which has fittings thatenable to support bottles of blood, plasma, glucose, saline solution, orthe like, or to hold receptacles which are attached to catheters ortubes within the bed patient.

The weighing mechanism, in each of the portable supports provided by thepresent invention, need only weigh the inflatable pad, the bed patient,and the bed patients attire. Because the inflatable pad is light inweight and because the patients attire is light in weight, the bedpatients weight constitutes the greatest proportion of the total weightsensed by the weighing mechanism. Such an arrangement is far moredesirable than is an arrangement wherein the bed, as well as the bedpatient, must be weighed; because in the former arrangement the weightof the bed patient is a very high percentage of the total weight,whereas in the latter arrangement the weight of the bed patient is amuch smaller percentage of the total weight. It is, therefore, an objectof the present invention to provide a portable support which only weighsan inflatable pad, a bed patient on that inflatable pad, and the attireof that patient.

The weighing mechanism in each of the portable supports of the presentinvention does not require much vertical movement of the supportingsurface of that portable support, and thus does not require muchvertical movement of the inflatable pad or of the bed patient. This isdesirable, because it permits a bed patient to be weighed even thoughsome of his or her limbs are held by traction frames, and even thoughthe upper portion of the bed patient is encased within an oxygen tent.It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aportable support which utilizes a weighing mechanism that does notrequire much vertical movement of the supporting surface of thatportable support.

The various portable supports provided by the present invention make itpossible for one person to lift a bed patient and to move that bedpatient around within a given space or room. Also, those portablesupports make it possible for that one person to accurately weigh thatbed patient. Further, those portable supports make it possible for thatone person to do any or all of those things without causing anydiscomfort to that bed patient. It is, therefore, an object of thepresent invention to provide a portable support which makes it possiblefor one person to lift a bed patient, to move that bed patient aroundwithin a given space or room, and to accurately weigh that bed patientwithout causing any discomfort to that bed patient.

The various portable supports provided by the present invention can beused to monitor the weight of a bed patient on a periodic or continuousbasis. Where any of those portable supports is used to monitor theweight of a bed patient on a periodic basis, that portable support willbe caused to recurrently hold that bed patient above the bed long enoughto enable a reading of his or her weight to be taken. Where any of thoseportable supports is used to monitor a bed patients weight on acontinuous basis, that portable support will be caused to continuouslyhold the bed patient. In all events, the bed patient is held in acomfortable position while being weighed. It is, therefore, an object ofthe present invention to provide a portable support which can monitorthe weight of a bed patient on a periodic or continuous basis.

The normally-deflated, readily-flexible, inflatable pad provided by thepresent invention has a passage therethrough in register with the rectalarea of a bed patient. That passage permits a bedpan to be placedbeneath the rectal area of the bed patient whenever the inflatable padis inflated to lift the bed patient above the level of the bed. Such aninflatable pad makes it possible for the waste products of the bedpatient to be collected with an absolute minimum of discomfort for thatbed patient. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention toprovide a normally-deflated, readilyflexible, inflatable pad that has apassage therethrough in register with the rectal area of a bed patient.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention shouldbecome apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanyingdescription.

In the drawing and accompanying description several preferredembodiments of the present invention are shown and described but it isto be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are forthe purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and thatthe invention will be defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partially-broken, plan view of one pre ferred embodiment ofportable support that is made in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of theportablesupport shown in FIG. 1, as it appears when the righthand wing thereofis in its lowered position,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the portable support shown in FIG.I,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inflated pad which can be used withthe portable support shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, on a larger scale. of part of thesupporting surface and inflated pad of the portable support shown inFIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 inFIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and5, of a portion of the portable support of FIG. 1, and it is taken alongthe plane indicated by the line 6-6 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 5 and6, of a further portion of the portable support of FIG. 1, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 7-7 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and7, through another portion of the portable support of FIG. 1, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 8-8 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on a scale intermediate those of FIGS. 1 and8, through the portable support of FIG. I, and it is taken along theplane indicated by the line 9-9 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 9, through a portionof the portable support of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the planeindicated by the line 10-10 in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a partially broken away, partically sectioned view, on thescale of FIG. 9, through the portable support of FIG. 1, and it is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 11-11 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 12 is a further sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 9, through theportable support of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 12-12 in FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 9, through theportable support of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 13-13 in FIG. 11,

FIG. 14 is yet another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 9, through aportion of the portable support of FIG. 1, and it is taken along theplane indicated by the line 14-14 in FIG. 9,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view, on a scale larger than the scale of FIG. 5,through another portion of the portable support of FIG. 1, and it istaken along the plane indicated by the line 15-15 in FIG. 9,

FIG. 16.is a sectional view, on a scale close to that of FIG. 5, througha further portion of the portable support of FIG. 1, and it is takenalong the plane indicated by the line 16-16 of FIG. 9,

FIG. 17 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 16, through thestructure shown in FIG. 16, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 17-17 in FIG. 16,

FIG. 18 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 16, of the structureshown in FIG. 17, and it is taken along the plane indicated by the line18-18 in FIG. 17,

FIG. 19 is another sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 16, through thestructure shown in FIG. 17, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 19-19 in FIG. 17,

FIG. 20 is a force diagram which shows forces adjacent one of the leversin the structure of FIG. 17,

FIG. 21 shows the electrical circuit of the portable support of FIGS.120,

FIG. 22 is an elevational view of a portion ofa second preferredembodiment of portable support which differs from the portable supportof FIGS. 1-20 by having a crank, rather than a motor, to raise and lowerthe carrier and supporting surface thereof,

FIG. 23 is a plan view of a third preferred embodiment of portablesupport,

FIG. 24 is an elevational view of the rear of the portable support shownin FIG. 23,

FIG. 25 is a partially broken-away, partiallysectioned, elevational viewof the left-hand end of the portable support of FIG. 23,

FIG. 26 is a partially broken-away, partiallysectioned elevational viewof a fourth preferred embodiment of portable support,

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a portion of the portable support shown inFIG. 26,

FIG. 28 is a schematic showing of the pneumatic system used in thevarious portable supports of FIGS. 1-27,

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view ofa disposable bedpan which is usablewith the inflatable pad of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 30 is an end elevational view of the bedpan of FIG. 29 in use withthat inflatable pad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. [-20, thenumeral 40 generally denotes a chassis for one preferred embodiment ofportable support that is made in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention. As indicated particularly by FIGS.1-3 and 9, that chassis is prismatic in form, is defined byhorizontally-extending and vertically extending structural members, andis enclosed by exterior walls which are secured to those structuralmembers. Casters 42, of standard and usual design, are secured to thebottom of the chassis 40 adjacent the four corners thereof; and thosecasters are equipped with latches. When those latches are released, thechassis 40 can be wheeled in any direction to any desired positionwithin a hospital or nursing home; but, when those latches are set, thechassis 40 will remain stationary.

The numeral 44 denotes two channels which have slots 46 in the uppersurfaces thereof; and those channels are located adjacent the bottom ofthe chassis 40. As indicated particularly by FIGS. 2 and 9, the channels44 incline downwardly at a shallow angle from the left-hand or rear faceof the chassis toward the righthand or front face of that chassis.Elongated stabilizing legs 48, which are shown in FIG. as hollow beamsof rectangular cross section, are slidably mounted within the channels44. Rollers 50 are rotatably mounted at the front ends of thestabilizing legs 48; and elongated racks 52 are provided on the uppersurfaces of those stabilizing legs. Those racks extend upwardly through,and above the levels of, the slots 46 in the channels 44, as indicatedparticularly by FIGS. 9 and 10.

The numeral 53 denotes a supporting sub-frame which is mounted at theinner face of the front end of the chassis 40, as indicated particularlyby FIGS. 9 and 15. An elongated shaft 54 is mounted in bearing blocks 55which are part of the supporting sub-frame 53, and which are shownparticularly by FIG. 15. That shaft is close to. and extends parallelto, the lower part of the front ofthe chassis 40, as indicatedparticularly by FIG. 9. Pinions 56 are fixedly secured to the outer endsof the shaft 54; and those pinions mesh with, and drive, the racks 52 onthe upper surfaces of the stabilizing legs 48, as indicated by FIGS. 1-3and 9.

The numeral 58 denotes a pivot which is mounted in the supportingsub-frame 53; and that pivot is shown particularly by FIGS. 9 and 15. Agear segment 60, with slotted arms 62, is rotatably mounted on the pivot58; and that gear segment is shown particularly by FIGSv 9, l4 and l5.Pins 64 are carried by the lower ends of the slotted arms 62 of gearsegment 60; and those pins project both outwardly and inwardly of thosearms, as shown particularly by FIG. 15. Pins 66 are secured to thesub-frame 53. and they project outwardly beyond both sides of thatsub-frame at a point below the level of the pivot 58, as shownparticularly by FIGS. 9 and I5; and the opposite ends of those pinsreceive the lower ends of helical extension springs 68. The upper endsof those helical extension springs are held by the pins 64 in theslotted arms 62 of gear segment 60, as shown particularly by FIGS. 9, l4and 15.

Stops 69 are formed on the sub-frame 53 at the approximate level of theaxis of the shaft 58, as shown particularly by FIGS. 9 and 15. Thosestops are in the paths of the confronting ends of the pins 64 on thegear segment 60; and those stops limit rotation of that gear segment inthe counter clockwise direction in FIG. 9. The helical extension springs68 bias the pins 64 on the gear segment 60 away from the stops 69whenever that gear segment is in the solid-line position shown in FIG.

9, but those helical extension springs bias those pins toward thosestops whenever that gear segment is in the dotted-line position shown inFIG. 9.

The numeral 70 denotes a shaft which is rotatably supported withinbearings that are located in the supporting sub-frame 53 above the levelof the bearing blocks 55, as shown particularly by FIGS. 9 and IS. Apinion 72 is fixedly mounted on, and thus will rotate with, the shaft70; and a pinion 74 is fixedly mounted on. and thus will rotate with,the shaft 54. The teeth on the pinions 72 and 74 mesh with each other;and the teeth on the pinion 72 mesh with the teeth on the gear segment60. As a result, rotation of that gear segment in the counter clockwisedirection in FIG. 9 will effect counter clockwise rotation of the shaft54. Coversely, clockwise rotation of that gear segment will effectclockwise rotation of that shaft.

The numeral 76 denotes a bushing which is mounted in the supportingsub-frame 53, as shown particularly by FIG. 9', and that bushingrotatably supports one end of an elongated lead screw 78. That leadscrew is horizontally disposed, and it extends from the front of thechassis 40 toward the rear of that chassis, as shown by FIG. 9. Abearing housing 80, which is supported by the chassis 40, has a bearingtherein that rotatably supports the rear end of the lead screw 78. Aflexible coupling 82 connects the rear end of that lead screw to theoutput shaft ofa reversible gear motor 84. That gear motor is mounted ona suitable supporting element within the chassis 40, as indicatedparticularly by FIGS. 9 and II.

The numeral 86 generally denotes a slide which has a straight rear edge,but which has a front edge that is defined by rearwardIy-inclinedconverging surfaces, as indicated by FIGS. I, 12 and 14. The centralportion of the slide 86 has a cylindrical passage 87 through it that hasan inner diameter which is larger than the diameter of the lead screw78, as shown particularly by FIG. I4. The slide 86 hashorizontally-directed arms 88, as shown particularly by FIGS. I and 14;and those arms have slots therein, as shown by FIG. 15. Projections 90,which are shown particularly by FIGS. 11-13, extend outwardly from theopposite sides of the slide 86. Slotted bosses 92 are formed on theupper surface of the guide 86 adjacent the front edge of that uppersurface, as shown particularly by FIGS. 11-13.

Guide channels 94 are fixedly mounted within the chassis 40; and thoseguide channels extend from the front to the rear of that chassisadjacent the inner surfaces of the sides of that chassis, as shownparticularly by FIGS. 11-13. Those guide channels receive and guide theprojections on the slide 86, and thus help guide movement of that slide.A double pole, single throw limit switch 95 is mounted on the chassis 40in position to be actuated by the slide 86 as that slide moves into theposition of FIGS. 11 and 12. A double pole, single throw limit switch 97is mounted on that chassis in position to be actuated by that slide asthat slide moves into the solid-line position of FIG. 9. A followerblock 96, that is shown particularly by FIGS. 9, l4 and 15, has aninternal thread which mates with the thread of the lead screw 78. Pins98 are fixedly secured to, and extend outwardly from, both sides of thefollower block 96, as shown particularly by FIGS. 14 and 15. Those pinsare disposed within, and are confined and guided by. the slots in theslotted arms 88 of the slide 86.

Slotted bosses 100 are formed on a portion of the chassis adjacent therear of that chassis. as shown particularly by FIGS. 9, 11 and 12. Thoseslotted bosses are located at the same approximate level as the slottedbosses 92 on the slide 86; and those slotted bosses are in generalalignment with the slotted bosses 92.

The numeral 102 generally denotes a platform which is rectangular inplan and in elevation. and which can be moved from the lowered positionof FIG. 9 to the raised position of FIG. 11. Slotted bosses 104 areprovided at the underside of the platform 102, adjacent the front ofthat platform, as indicated by FIGS. 9 and 11. Slotted bosses 105 areprovided at the underside of platform 102, adjacent the rear of thatplatform. as indicated by FIGS. 9 and 11.

The numeral 106 denotes channels which are carried by the platform 102at the top thereof; and those channels extend from the front to the rearof that platform. and they are located adjacent the opposite sides ofthat platformv As shown particularly by FIG. 16, the channels 106 haveflanges which extend short distances downwardly at the opposite sides ofthe platform 102. Screws 107 extend through those flanges and seat inthreaded openings within the opposite sides of the platform 102. asshown by FIG. 16. to fixedly secure the channels 106 to that platform.Elongated slides 108 are dimensioned to fit within the channels 106, asindicated particularly by FIGS. 11 and 16-19; and those elongated slidesare generally C-shaped in cross section but have thick webs. Recessesare formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the thick webs of theelongated slides 108 to accommodate rollers 110. Those rollers engagethe confronting faces of the upper and lower flanges of the channels106, and thereby facilitate ready telescoping movement of those slidesrelative to those channels. The numeral 112 denotes agenerally-rcctangular carrier which has a length just shorter than thelength of the platform 102. and which has a width that is slightlygreater than the width of the platform 102, as shown particularly byFIGS. 16 and 17. The sides of the platform 112 are offset slightlyupwardly and are disposed within the slides 108, as indicatedparticularly by FIGS. 16 and 17. Rollers 114 are disposed withinrecesses in the upper and lower surfaces of the sides of the carrier112; and those rollers engage the confronting surfaces of the upper andlower flanges of the elongated slides 108. As a result. the carrier 112can freely telescope relative to the slides 108, while the slides 108telescope freely relative to the channels 106. All of this means thatthe carrier 112 can be shifted forwardly from the position of FIG. 9,wherein it is in register with the platform 102, to the position ofFIGS. 1, 2 and 11, wherein it is disposed wholly forwardly of thatplatform.

Hinge plates 116 are pivotally secured to the carrier 112 by hinge pins118, as shown particularly by FIGS. 16 and 17. One set of hinge plates116 is disposed adjacent the rear edge of the carrier 112 and extendslengthwise of that carrier, while a second set of those hinge plates isdisposed adjacent the front of that carrier and also extends lengthwiseof that carrier all as indicated by FIG. 9 and 17. Agenerallyrectangular supporting surface 120 is secured to the upper endsof the hinge plates 116 by hinge pins 119, as shown by FIGS. 9 and 17.That supporting surface overlies the carrier 112; and the edges thereofextend short distances outwardly beyond the edges of that carrier.

The carrier 112 has spaced, upstanding ribs 113, and also has aperimetral upstanding flange. Those ribs and that flange stiffen andreinforce that carrier, and thereby enable that carrier to be sturdy andstrong although light in weight. The supporting surface 120 has spaced.downwardly-extending ribs 121 plus a downwardly-extending perimetralflange. Those ribs and that flange stiffen and reinforce that supportingsurface. and thereby enable that supporting surface to be sturdy andstrong although light in weight.

The numeral 122 denotes a pressure transducer of standard design andconstruction. and that pressure transducer is supported by the carrier112 adjacent the geometric center of that carrier. The numeral 123denotes an insert of hard material in the underface of the supportingsurface 120; and that insert is in register with the movable element ofthe pressure transducer 122. The upper surface of that movable elementis spherical in configuration to enable it to have point contact withthe hard insert 123; and such contact is desirable because it will makecertain that the pressure transducer is centrally loaded by a singleconcentrated load.

The hinge plates 116, the carrier 112 and the sup porting surface 120essentially act as a fourbar. link age mechanism which is arranged as aquadrilateral. which has the opposite sides thereof parallel. and whichdefines equal oblique angles and equal acute angles; and this isdesirable. because such a linkage mechanism enables all of the weight ofthe supporting surface 120 and of anything and anyone resting thereon tobe concentrated at the hard insert 123 as a vertically-directed load. Inthis way. the portable support of the present invention obviates thecost and the potential errors inherent in the use of a plurality ofpressure transducers or load-sensing cells which have the outputsthereof suitably totaled. Any internal loads which develop in thefourbar. linkage mechanism will be in static equilib rium. and thus willproduce no significant rotation in the load which is concentrated at thehard insert 123. Further. because any displacement of the center ofgravity of the supporting surface 120 and of anything and anyone restingthereon relative to the hard insert 123 will merely produce a variationin the internal loads in the hinge plates 116 of the four-bar. linkagemechanism, it is not necessary that the said hard insert be at theprecise geometric center of the supporting surface 120, and it is notnecessary that the pressure transducer 122 be at the precise geometriccenter of the carrier 112.

The only disturbance forces which could tend to decrease the accuracy ofthe weight-indicating signals developed by the pressure transducer 122would be those caused by friction. The numeral in FIG. 20 denotes anarrow which represents a horizontally-directed frictional force that isthe product of a downwardly-acting force represented by the arrow 127and its associated coefficient of friction; and thathorizontallydirected frictional force acts at a small radial distanceindicated by the numeral 129 below the center line of a hinge pin 119.That horizontally-directed frictional force will develop a resistivemoment of force that will have to be overcome by the load applied to thesupporting surface but that resistive moment of force will beessentially insignificant because the diameter of the hinge pin 119 isvery small. and because the surface of that hinge pin and of thecomplementary opening in the hinge plate I16 will be smooth, hard andlubricated. The overall result is that the fourbar. linkage mechanismenables the pressure transducer I22 to indicate the total weight of thesupporting surface 120 and of anything and anyone resting thereon with ahigh degree of repeatable accuracy. The pressure transducer I22 has amovable element which moves only a very small fraction of an inch as abed patient is being weighed. If desired, that pressure transducer couldbe a resistance-type load-sensing cell or could be a piston of ahydraulic weight-sensing system.

A flexible insulated conductor 124 extends from the pressure transducer122 to and through a grommet 126 in the carrier 122, and then extends toand through a grommet I28 in the upper surface of the platform I02, asshown by FIG. 9. That conductor extends to a digital readout andtransducer supply 236 which is shown in FIG. 21. The portion of theflexible conductor 124 which is intermediate the grommets I26 and 128preferably is made so it tends to assume a generally helicalconfiguration, as shown by FIG. 9; because such a configuration enablesthat conductor to accommodate movement ofthe carrier I12 and of thesupporting surface I from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the positionshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and II. In FIG. 1, the conductor I24 is shown asbeing absolutely straight; but even when the supporting surface I20 isin the position shown in FIGS. I, 2 and 11, the conductor I24 will havesome slack in it.

The numeral I30 denotes a handle that is fixedly secured to the rearedge of the supporting surface 120; and that handle resembles aninverted U in elevation. as shown particularly by FIG. 3. That handlecan be used to apply forces to the supporting surface 120 which willcause that supporting surface and the carrier 112 to move from theretracted position of FIG. 9 to the moved position of FIGS. 1, 2, andII. Conversely, the handle I30 can be used to apply forces to thesupporting surface 120 which will cause that supporting surface and thecarrier I12 to move from the moved position of FIGS. 1, 2 and II to theretracted position of FIG. 9.

The supporting surface 120 has sockets 13I secured thereto adjacent oneedge thereof; and those sockets can releasably receive hangers 132.Those hangers can be used to support containers, such as the container256 in FIG. 2, for blood, plasma, glucose, saline solution, or the like.The supporting surface 120 also is provided with several headed pins134. as indicated by FIGS. I3 and 17. In addition. the supportingsurface I20 has sockets I therein which can releasably re ceive thehangers 132.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and II, the numeral 136 denotes a lever which hastwo end plates that are held in fixedly-spaced relation by twoconnecting plates 137. The end plates of the lever I36 are disposed ashort distance inwardly of the inner faces of the sides of the platform102; and the connecting plate 137 of that lever extend lengthwise ofthat platform.

Pins 138 rotatably secure the upper ends of the end plates of the lever136 to the slotted bosses 105, and thus to the platform 102, as shown byFIGS. 9 and 11. Pins 140 rotatably secure the lower ends of the endplates of the lever 136 to the slotted bosses 92 of the slide 86, asshown by FIGS. 9 and 11.

The numeral 142 denotes a lever which is essentially identical with thelever 136 having two end plates and two connecting plates I43. The endplates of the lever I42 are disposed outwardly of the end plates of thelever I36 but inwardly of the inner surfaces of the sides of theplatform 102, and the connecting plates 143 of the former lever extendlongitudinally of that platform. As shown particularly by FIG. 9,portions of the end plates of the levers 136 and I42 are cut away toreduce the weights of those levers. Pins 144 rotatably secure the lowerends of the end plates of the lever I42 to the slotted bosses I00 of thechassis 40. Pins I46 slidably and rotatably secure the upper ends of theend plates of the lever 142 to the slotted bosses 104 of the platform102.

An elongated pivot 148 extends through the end plates ofthe lever 136and are secured to the end plates of the lever 142. That pivot holds thelevers I36 and 142 in assembled relation with each other, whilepermitting those levers to rotate relative to each other about thegeometric centers thereof. The slide 86. the levers 136 and 142. and theplatform I02 essentially act as a scissors-type jack.

The numeral 150 denotes a wing which is shown in plan view in FIG. I andin side view in FIG. 3. A similar wing 164 is shown in plan view inFIG. 1. in end view in FIG. 2, in side view in FIG. 3, and in section inFIG. 6. A hinge I51 has one plate thereof secured to the chassis 40, andhas the other plate thereof secured to the under surface of the wingI50; and that hinge per mits that wing to be rotated into and out of thedottedline and solid-line positions in FIG. 3. Similarly. a hinge 161has one plate thereof secured to the chassis 40. and has the other platethereof secured to the under surface of the wing I64; and that hingepermits that wing to be rotated into and out of the dotted-line andsolid-line positions in FIG. 3.

The wing I50 has slots 152 in the sides thereof, and the wing I64 hasslots 162 in the sides thereof. As shown particularly by FIG. 6, thewing I64 has a barlike latch I74 therein, and that latch has a recesstherein. A pin 165 has the inner end thereof disposed within the recessin the latch I74, and it has the outer end thereof extending outwardlyof the slot 162. A helical compression spring 176 urges the pin 165outwardly into locking position within the slot 162. The head of the pin165 is undercut to provide a smalldiameter portion which can slidefreely through the slot 162; but a shoulder 167 on that pin is too largeto fit into the normal-width portion of that slot, and can only fit intolarger-diameter openings at the ends of that slot.

When the wing 164 is in the dotted-line position in FIG. 3, the barlikelatch I74 will be located wholly out of the chassis 40 and will bewholly within the wing I64; and the shoulder 167 of the pin 165 will bein the large-diameter opening at that end of the slot I62 which is mostremote from the hinge 161. At such time, the wing 164 can be rotatedfreely into and out of the dotted-line position in FIG. 3. When the wing164 is to be set in the solid-line position in FIG. 3, that wing will beraised to that position; and then the pin 165 will be pushed inwardly,against the pressure of the spring I76, and that pin will be moved tothe solid-line position in FIG. 6. As the pin 165 is moved from thedotted-line position to the solid-line position in FIG. 6, the bar-likelatch 174 will move into position within the chassis 40, and willthereby hold the wing 164 in horizontal position thereby enabling thatwing to constitute an extension of the upper surface of the chassis 40.As the bar-like latch I74 reaches the limit of its inner movement, theshoulder 167 of the pin 165 will respond to the spring 176 to move intothe large-diameter opening at that end of the slot 162 which is closestto the pivot 161. The wing 164 will have two bar-type latches 174,

two pins 165, two springs 176. and two slots 162; and those latches,pins. springs and slots will be in register with each other. The wing150 will have two slots 152 which will perform the functions performedby the slots 162, will have two pins 154 which will perform thefunctions of the pins 165, will have two springs, not shown, which willperform the functions of the springs 176, and will have two bar-typelatches. not shown, which will perform the functions of the bar-typelatches 174. As a result, the wing 150 can be latched in the solid-lineposition in FIG. 3, or can be unlatched and moved into the dotted-lineposition in FIG. 3.

The numeral 156 denotes an arm which is rotatably secured to the wing150 by a pivot 158; and the numeral 160 denotes a second arm which isrotatably secured to that wing by a pivot 159. The numeral 166 denotesan arm which is rotatably secured to the wing 164 by a pivot I68; andthe numeral 170 denotes a second arm which is rotatably secured to thatwing by a pivot 172. The outer edge of the wing 164 is open in nature sothe arms I66 and 170 can be rotated into the posi tions indicated byFIGS. 1 and 2. Similarly, the outer edge of the wing 150 is open innature so the arms I56 and 160 can be rotated into positions comparableto the positions occupied by the arms 166 and 170 in FIG. 1. Conversely.the arms 166 and 170 can be rotated outwardly to positions comparable tothe positions cupied by the arms 156 and 160 in FIG. 1.

As shown particularly by FIG. 7, the arm 166 has a button 178 with areduced diameter upper end; and a helical compression spring urges thatreduced diameter upper end upwardly into the spring 179 or into theopening 181 in the wing I64. Whenever the arm 166 is in the retractedposition shown by FIG. 1, the reduced diameter upper end of the button178 will extend into and be held by the opening 181. However, wheneverthe arm 166 is in its extended position, the reduced diameter upper endof the button 178 will extend into and be held by the opening 179. Thearm 170 carries a button 180 with a reduced diameter upper end; and thatreduced diameter upper end will be in the forwardmost opening 182whenever that arm is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 1, but willbe in the other opening 182 whenever that arm is in its extendedposition.

The arm 156 has a button 155 which is comparable to the button 178 inFIG. 7, and that button will be disposed in the forwardmost opening 149of the wing I50 whenever that arm is in its retracted position. However,the reduced diameter upper end of the button 155 will be in the other ofthe openings 149 in the wing 150 whenever the arm 156 is in its extendedposition. Similarly. the arm 160 is provided with a button 153 that canbe identical to the button 178 of FIG. 7. That button will have thereduced diameter upper end thereof disposed within the rearmost of twoopenings 157 in the wing 150 whenever the arm 160 is in its retractedposition, but will have that reduced diameter upper end in the other ofthe openings I57 whenever that arm is in the extended position shown byFIG. 1.

Whenever the wing 150 is moved into and latched in the solid-lineposition of FIG. 3 and the arms 156 and are in the retracted positionswherein they extend part-way into that wing, and whenever the wing 164is moved into and latched in the solid-line position of FIG. 3 and thearms I66 and are in the retracted positions wherein they extend part-wayinto that wing, those wings will moderately increase the effectivelength of the portable support of FIGS. l-20. If the ef fective lengthof that portable support needs to be increased even further. the arms[56 and 166 can be moved into, and locked in, the positions shown byFIG. 1; and the arms 166 and 170 also can be moved into, and locked in,their extended positions. On the other hand, if the effective length ofthe portable support support should be decreased to a minimum, the wings150 and 164 can be rotated into the dotted-line positions shown by FIG.3.

Bumpers 184 of the resilient material are provided at the outer cornersof each of the wings 150 and 164. Those bumpers will keep those cornersfrom directly engaging the edges of any doorways through which theportable support of FIGS. l-20 is moved. Because the chassis 40 isnarrower than the width of an average width door in a hospital ornursing home, the portable support of FIGS. l20 can easily be moved intoand out of most spaces and rooms in a hospital or nursing home.

The numeral 188 in FIG. 3 denotes a door of a compartment, within thechassis 40, which accommodates a storage battery 192. A pull or otherhandle 190 is provided to enable the door 188 to be opened to check, orto service, that battery. The numeral 194 in FIG. 3 denotes a door to afurther compartment within the chassis 40; and a pull or knob 196 isprovided on that door to facilitate the opening of that door.

The numeral 198 denotes an electric motor which is mounted within thechassis 40', and the numeral 200 denotes an air compressor which also ismounted within that chassis. A belt 202 connects a pulley on the shaftof the motor 198 to a pulley on the shaft of the air compressor 200. Thenumeral 201 in FIGS. 3 and 28 denotes a manually-operated valve; andthat valve is mounted on a control panel 252 on the chassis 40. One portof that valve is connected to the outlet of the compressor 200 by apressure regulator 203, a second port of that valve is connected toflexible hoses 222 and 226, a third port of that valve is connected tothe inlet of the compressor 200 by an adjustable valve 205, and thefourth port of that valve is connected to an air filter 199. Wheneverthe movable element of the valve 201 is in the position shown by FIG. 28and the motor 198 is operated, the compressor 200 will draw air inwardlythrough the air filter 199 and the valve 201 and the adjustable valve205, will compress that air, and will then cause that air to flowthrough the pressure regulator 203 and the valve 201 to the hoses 222and 226. However, when the movable element of the valve 201 is rotatedninety degrees in the clockwise direction, the outlet of the compressor200 will be connected to the air filter 199 by the pressure regulator203 and that valve, and the hoses 222 and 226 will be connected to theinlet of that compressor by that valve and by the adjustable valve 205.Consequently, at such time, operation of the motor 198 will cause thecompressor 200 to withdraw air from the hoses 222 and 226 and todischarge that air through the air cleaner 199; and that air cleanerwill tend to act as a silencer.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the numeral 204 denotes an inflatablepad which is made from a readilyflexible material that is essentiallyair-impervious and that is essentially insensitive to sterilizationmedia and body fluids. That inflatable pad includes an upper surface. alower surface and a multitude of drop threads which extend between andinterconnect those upper and lower surfaces; and some of those dropthreads are shown by FIG. 3. The inflatable pad 204 also includes sidesand ends which make that inflatable pad air-tight. Handles 206 areprovided on the sides and ends of the inflatable pad 204 to facilitatethe lifting and handling of that inflatable pad. In fact, those handlesmake it possible to use that inflatable pad as a stretcher on whichpersons can be transported by hand. A passage 208 is provided throughthe inflatable pad 204; and that passage will be located in registerwith the rectal area of a bed patient resting on that inflatable pad.The passage 208 will be large enough to permit body wastes to passfreely through it into a bedpan or other recepta cle located below it,but will be small enough to enable the adjacent portions of theinflatable pad to provide support for the bed patient.

The numeral 210 denotes a commercially-available, low pressure,quick-disconnect fitting at one end of the inflatable pad 204; and thatfitting is hermetically sealed whenever it does not have a complementarycommercially-available. low pressure, quickdisconnect fitting connectedto it. Such a complementary commercially-available, low pressure,quickdisconnect fitting is provided at the free end of each of theflexible hoses 222 and 226. The connecting of the complementarycommercially-available, low pressure, quick disconneet fitting. at thefree end of either of those flexible hoses, to thecommercial]y-available, low pressure. quick-disconnect fitting 210 willpermit air to be introduced into or withdrawn from the inflatable pad204.

Flexible straps 212 are secured to the inflatable pad 204, adjacent thesides of that inflatable pad; and the free ends of those straps haveopenings 213 therein which can telescope over the heads of the headedpins 134 on the supporting surface 120. Whenever the straps 212 have theopenings 213 in the lower ends thereof telescoped over the heads of theheaded pins 134, the inflatable pad 204 will be held against shiftingrelative to the supporting surface 120.

The numeral 214 denotes an inflatable spacer which underlies one end ofthe inflatable pad 204. That inflatable spacer has an upper surface, abottom surface, a multitude of drop threads which extend between andinterconnect those surfaces. sides and ends. Some of the drop threads ofthat inflatable spacer are shown in FIG. 3. The inflatable spacer 214 isprovided with a commercially-available. low pressure, quickdisconnectfitting 218; and that fitting is hermetically sealed whenever it doesnot have a complementary commercially-available, low pressure,quickdisconnect fitting connected to it. Such a complementarycommercially-available. low pressure. quickdisconnect fitting isprovided at the free end of each of the flexible hoses 222 and 226. Theconnecting of the complementary commercially-available. low pressure,quickdisconnect fitting, at the free end of either of those flexiblehoses, to the commercially-available, low pressure, quick-disconnectfitting 218 will permit air to be introduced into or withdrawn from theinflatable spacer 214. The numeral 216 denotes an inflatable spacerwhich underlies the other end of the inflatable pad 204. The inflatablespacer 216 has an upper surface. a lower surface, a multitude of dropthreads which extend between and interconnect those surfaces, sides andends. in addition. the inflatable spacer 216 has acommercially-available, low pressure, quickdisconnect fitting 220', andthat fitting is hermetically sealed whenever it does not have acomplementary commercially-available. low pressure. quickdisconnectfitting connected to it. Such a complementary commercially-available.low pressure, quickdisconnect fitting is provided at the free end ofeach of the flexible hoses 222 and 226. The connecting of thecomplementary commercially-available. low pressure, quick-disconnectfitting. at the free end of either of those flexible hoses, to thecommercially-available, low pressure, quick-disconnect fitting 220 willpermit air to be introduced into or withdrawn from the inflatable spacer216.

The inflatable pad 204 and the inflatable spacers 214 and 216 could bemade of different materials, and they could be made in different ways.For example. that inflatable pad and those inflatable spacers could bemade of dacron. nylon, fiber glass and many other filaments, single orstranded; and that inflatable pad and those inflatable spacers could bemade in the same way in which the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation makesthe three-dimensional structural fabrics which it sells under the markAlRMAT.

Whenever the inflatable pad 204 and the inflatable spacers 214 and 216are deflated. they are very flexible and pliable, and they will occupyvery little space. As a result. they can underlie a bed patient withoutcausing that bed patient any discomfort. Whenever that inflatable padand those inflatable spacers are fully inflated, they are quite firm.and they can provide full support for a bed patient. Whenever theinflatable pad 204 is must partially inflated, it will provide a gentle,cradle-like cushioning action for the bed patient.

The inflatable pad 204 can be dimensioned to have an inflated thicknesswithin a range of 2 to 6 inches. Similarly, each of the inflatablespacers 214 and 216 can be dimensioned to have an inflated thicknesswithin a range of 2 to 6 inches. As a result, inflating of theinflatable pad 204 and of the inflatable spacers 214 and 216 can gentlybut firmly raise a bed patient a distance of from 4 to 12 inches abovethe level of the mattress on a bed. As the inflatable spacers 214 and216 are inflated. they will raise the inflated pad 204 upwardly relativeto that mattress; and. depending upon the inflated thicknesses of thoseinflatable spacers, the central portion of that inflatable pad can beraised from two to six inches from that mattress.

The inflated thickness of each of the inflatable spacers 214 and 216 isgreater than the height of the bedpan 258 shown in FIG. 3. As a result,that bedpan can be freely moved into position below the passage 208 inthe inflatable pad 204, and can subsequently be freely removed fromposition below that passage. Also, the inflated thickness of each of theinflatable spacers 214 and 216 is greater than the combined heights ofthe supporting surface and of the carrier 112, as shown by FIG. 2.Consequently, that carrier and that supporting surface can readily betelescoped into the space between the upper surface of the mattress andthe lower surface of the inflatable pad 204.

If desired, one or the other of the inflatable spacers 214 and 216 couldbe left in deflated condition. Where that was done, the inflatable pad204 would incline at a gentle angle relative to the mattress of the bed;and hence, a gentle inclination of the bed patients body, either withthe head down or with the head up, could easily be attained. Thatinclination could be maintained as long as desired, and it could beattained and maintained without any discomfort to the bed patient. Allthat need be done is to inflate the inflatable pad 204, and thereafterto inflate the desired inflatable spacer 214 or 216. As that inflatablespacer was inflated, the adjacent end of the inflatable pad 204 wouldraise upwardly; and that inflatable pad would be so stiff that it wouldgently but firmly raise all portions of the bed patients body to thedesired inclination.

The flexible hose 222 has one end thereof connected to the valve 201 bypiping and a T-junction 223, as shown by FIG. 1. Normally that flexiblehose is held within a hose compartment 224 within the chassis 40; andnormally the door of that hose compartment is closed. However, that dooris readily openable to permit the flexible hose 222 to be withdrawn fromthat compartment, and to have the commercially-available, low pressure.quick-disconnect fitting at the free end thereof connected to thecommercially-available, low pressure, quick-disconnect fitting 210 onthe inflatable pad 204 or to either of the commercially-available, lowpressure, quick-disconnect fittings 218 and 220 on the inflatablespacers 214 and 216. Similarly, the flexible hose 226 has one endthereof connected to the valve 201 by piping and the T-junction 223, asshown by FIG. 1. Normally that flexible hose is held within a hosecompartment 228 within the chassis 40; and normally the door of thathose compartment is closed. However, that door is readily openable topermit the flexible hose 226 to be withdrawn from that compartment, andto have the commercially-available, low pressure, quickdisconnectfitting at the free end thereof connected to the commercially-available,low pressure, quickdisconnect fitting 210 on the inflatable pad 204 orto either of the commercially-available, low pressure, quick-disconnectfittings 218 and 220 on the inflatable spacers 214 and 216.

Referring particularly to FIG. 21, the numeral 230 denotes an electricplug which can be pluged into the standard and usual electric outlet inthe wall ofa room in a hospital or nursing home. An overload device 232is connected between one prong of the plug 230 and a connector strip233; and the other prong of that plug is directly connected to aconnector strip 235. A lamp 234 has the terminals thereof connected tothe connector strips 233 and 235, and thus will be illuminated wheneverthe plug 230 is plugged into the appropriate electric outlet. Oneterminal of the digital readout and transducer supply 236 is directlyconnected to the connector strip 235, while the other terminal of thatdigital readout and transducer supply is connected to the connectorstrip 233 by one pole of a double pole, double throw switch 238. A DCpower distribution and charger 240 has the input terminals thereofdirectly connected to the connector strips 233 and 235; and hence the DCpower distribution and charger will develop a DC voltage at the outputthereof whenever the plug 230 is plugged into an appropriate electricoutlet.

The storage battery 192 has the positive terminal thereof directlyconnected to the positive output termirial of the D.C. PowerDistribution And Charger 240; and it has the negative terminal thereofconnected to the negative terminal of that D.C. Power Distribution AndCharger by an overload device 242. A voltmeter 244 is connectable acrossthe terminals of the storage battery 192 by a single pole, single throwswitch 245. The positive output terminal of the D.C. Power DistributionAnd Charger 240 is connected to the two stationary contacts adjacent theother pole of the doublepole double-throw switch 238. That other pole iscon nected to one pole of a double-pole double-throw reversing switch246, and also is connected to one terminal of the motor 198 by asingle-pole single-throw switch 250. The other pole of the double-poledoublethrow reversing switch 246 and the other terminal of the motor-198are connected to the negative output terminal of the D.C. PowerDistribution And Charger 240 by the overload device 242. The limitswitch selectively connects the right-hand contacts of the double-poledouble-throw reversing switch 246 to the terminals of the gear motor 84;and the limit switch 97 selectively connects the left-hand contacts ofthat double-pole double-throw reversing switch to these terminals.

The control panel 252 has a knob which can be used to set the movablecontacts of the double-pole doublethrow switch 238 in their upperposition, in their lower position, or in an open position. That controlpanel also has a knob which can be used to set the movable contacts ofthe double-pole double-throw reversing switch 246 in their left-handpositions, in their righthand positions, or in an off" position. Inaddition, that control panel has an actuator to selectively close theswitch 250 and an actuator to selectively close the switch 245.Furthermore, that control panel has actuators that can be used to resetthe overload devices 232 and 242. Moreover, the control panel 252 has aknob which can be used to set the valve 201 in its inflate or deflateposition. Also, that control panel has the lamp 234 and the voltmeter244 incorporated therein.

The numeral 254 denotes a display panel which is located on the chassis40 in the position shown by FIG. 1. That display panel includes thedigital readout of the digital readout and transducer supply 236. Thatreadout will display in digital form the value of any weight which restsupon the supporting surface 120, and thereby acts upon the pressuretransducer 122.

To use the portable support of FIGS. 1-20, the operator will release thelatches on the casters 42 of that portable support, and will then movethat portable support into position where it is alongside of, andparallel with, a bed on which an inflatable pad 204, with its inflatablespacers 214 and 216, underlies a bed patient. At such time, thatinflatable pad and those inflatable spacers will be in their deflatedconditions. Also, at such time, the slides 108 will be fully retractedwithin the channels 106 on the platform 102, and the sides of thecarrier 112 will be fully retracted within the slides [08; and latches,not shown, will hold that carrier in that position. Consequently, thesupporting surface and the carrier "2 will be directly above, and inregister with, the platform 102 and the chassis 40, as shownparticularly by FIG. 9.

After the chassis 40 has been moved into position wherein it isalongside of, and parallel with, the bed, the operator will set thelatches on the casters 42. Also, the operator will open the hosecompartment 224 and will

1. An inflatable pad which comprises an upper surface ofreadilyflexible, air-confining material, a lower surface of readilyflexible, air-confining material that underlies and confronts said uppersurface and that directly engages said upper surface whenever saidinflatable pad is in its deflated condition, a multitude of drop threadsconnected to and extending between said upper and lower surfaces tolimit the extent to which any given portion of said upper surface canmove upwardly away from the corresponding portion of said lower surface,and a fitting through which gas can be introduced into and through whichgas can be released from said inflatable pad, said inflatable pad beingdimensioned to underlie and support the truck, arms and legs of aperson, said inflatable pad being readily flexible and being essentiallyflat whenever it is deflated but being firm and being essentially rigidand having said upper surfaces essentially flat whenever it is fullyinflated, said inflatable pad being deflatable to permit said upper andlower surfaces to closely abut each other and to closely abut anunderlying support and to lie essentially flat, and said inflatable padhaving an inflated thickness at one end thereof which is different thanthe inflated thickness of the central portion of said inflatable pad,said inflated thickness at said one end enabling said one end toautomatically define an area at one level whenever said inflatable padis inflated, said inflated thickness of said central portion enablingsaid central portion to automatically define another area at a secondand different level, whereby one of said areas of said inflatable pad isautomatically raised above the surface of said underlying supportwhenever said inflatable pad is inflated, said one of said areasextending inwardly from one edge of said inflatable pad and extendingmore than one-half of the distance to the opposite edge of saidinflatable pad to help define a space into which a part of a liftingdevice can be inserted to facilitate lifting of said inflatable pad whensaid inflatable pad is in its inflated condition.
 2. An inflatable padas claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable pad has a generallyvertically-directed passage through it adjacent said central portionthereof, wherein the central portion of said lower surface of saidinflatable pad can be raised above said surface of said underlyingsupport a distance greater than the height of a bed pan of averageheight, wherein said vertically-directed passage is elongated and hasthe long axis thereof directed longitudinally of said inflatable pad,and wherein said vertically-directed passage is small enough to enableadjacent portions of said inflatable pad to provide support for the bedpatient.
 3. An inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one ofsaid areas can be raised above said surface of said underlying support adistance greater than the overall combined heights of a carrier and of asupporting surface of a portable support for said inflatable pad,whereby said carrier and said supporting surface can be telescoped intoposition between said surface of said underlying support and said one ofsaid areas.
 4. The method of transferring a patient from a bed to atransporting device and of comfortably transporting said bed patient onsaid transporting device which comprises placing said bed patient on aninflatable pad, fully inflating said inflatable pad to render saidinflatable pad rigid so said inflatable pad can be used as a rigidsupport for said bed patient, using said fully inflated pad to transfersaid bed patient from said bed to said transporting device, partiallydeflating said inflatable pad so the perimetral portions of saidinflatable pad are inflated to a greater thickness than are the portionsof said inflatable pad which underlie said bed patient, said perimetralportions and said underlying portions of said inflatable pad acting tocomfortably cradle said bed patient, and moving said transporting deviceto transport said inflatable pad to thereby transport said bed patient.5. An inflatable pad which comprises an upper surface ofreadily-flexible, air-confining material, a lower surface ofreadily-flexible, air-confining material that underlies and confrontssaid upper surface and that directly engages said upper surface wheneversaid inflatable pad is in its deflated condition, a multitude of dropthreads connected to and extending between said upper and lower surfacesto limit the extent to which any given portion of said upper surface canmove upwardly away from the corresponding portion of said lower surface,and a fitting through which gas can be introduced into and through whichgas can be released from said inflatable pad, said inflatable pad beingdimensioned to underlie and support the trunk, arms and legs of aperson, said inflatable pad being readily flexible and being essentiallyflat whenever it is deflated but being firm and being essentially rigidand having said upper surface essentially flat whenever it is fullyinflated, said inflatable pad being deflatable to permit said upper andlower surfaces to closely abut each other and to closely abut anunderlying support and to lie essentially flat, said inflatable padhaving a generally vertically-directed passage through it adjacent thecentral portion thereof, said generally vertically-directed passagebeing elongated and having its long axis extending longitudinally ofsaid inflatable pad, said generally vertically-directed passage beingdimensioned to removably receive and to support a bedpan, said generallyvertically-directed passage being small enough to enable adjacentportions of said inflatable pad to provide support for said person. 6.An inflatable pad as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflatable pad hasan inflated thickness at the other end thereof which is greater than theinflated thickness of said central portion of said inflatable pad,whereby the upper surface of said inflatable pad can be substantiallyparallel to said underlying support and yet have said central portion ofsaid lower surface of said inflatable pad automatically raised abovesaid surface of said underlying support.
 7. An inflatable pad whichcomprises an upper surface of readily flexible, air-confining material,a lower surface of readily flexible, air-confining material thatunderlies and confronts said upper surface and that directly engagessaid upper surface whenever said inflatable pad is in its deflatedcondition, a multitude of drop threads connected to and extendingbetween said upper and lower surfaces to limit the extent to which anygiven portion of said upper surface can move upwardly away from thecorresponding portion of said lower surface, a fitting through which gascan be introduced into and through which gas can flow from saidinflatable pad, said inflatable pad being dimensioned to underlie andsupport the trunk, arms and legs of a person, said inflatable pad beingreadily flexible and being essentially flat whenever it is deflated butbeing firm and being essentially rigid and having said upper surfaceessentially flat whenever it is fully inflated, an inflatable spacerwhich is secured to and which depends downwardly from one end of saidinflatable pad and which includes an upper surface of readily-flexible,air-confining material and a lower surface of readily-flexible,air-confining material and a multitude of drop threads connected to andextending between said upper and lower surfaces, a second fittingthrough which gas can be introduced into and through which gas can flowfrom the first said inflatable spacer, a second inflatable spacer whichis secured to and which depends downwardly from the opposite end of saidinflatable pad and which includes an upper surface of readily-flexible,air-confining material and a lower surface of readily-flexible,air-confining material and a multitude of drop threads connected to andextending between said upper and lower surfaces, and a third fittingthrough which gas can be introduced into and through which gas can flowfrom said second inflatable spacer, said inflatable spacers beingselectively inflatable to provide controlled tilting of said inflatablepad, said inflatable pad and said first said and said second inflatablespacers being deflatable to permit said upper and lower surfaces of allof them to closely abut each other and to closely abut an underlyingsupport and to lie essentially flat, said inflatable spacers respondingto inflation thereof to automatically define an area at said lowersurface which extends inwardly from one edge of said inflatable pad andwhich extends more than one-half of the distance to the opposite edge ofsaid inflatable pad to help define a space into which a part of alifting device can be inserted to facilitate lifting of said inflatablepad when said inflatable pad is in its inflated condition.